Rem Ruatpuii, L. Biakzuala, Vishal Santra, H. Lalremsanga
{"title":"Additional Notes on Morphology and Distributional Records of the Snake Genus Smithophis Giri, Gower, Das, Lalremsanga, Lalronunga, Captain et Deepak, 2019 (Squamata: Serpentes: Natricidae) from North-East India","authors":"Rem Ruatpuii, L. Biakzuala, Vishal Santra, H. Lalremsanga","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-331-340","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-331-340","url":null,"abstract":"Recent publications provided some detailed insight into the genus Smithophis, but a paucity of information still exists on the distributional range, conservation, biology, and life history of the members of this genus from the northeast part of India. In the present study, we present new distribution records of the two sympatric Smithophis species, S. atemporalis and S. bicolor from Mizoram State, north-east India. We also provide an updated morphology and descriptions of hemipenes in both the species based on 32 specimens newly collected during the course of our studies (2008 – 2020). The occurrence of a distinct color forms in S. bicolor is documented.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41373549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Ganesh, V. Samarawickrama, Aishwarya J. Urs, Achyuthan N. Srikanthan, O. Adhikari
{"title":"Resurrection of Boiga ranawanei Samarawickrama, Samarawickrama, Wijesena et Orlov, 2005, with Expanded Descriptions and Species Distribution Modelling of Some Indian Taxa of the B. ceylonensis Group (Reptilia: Colubridae)","authors":"S. Ganesh, V. Samarawickrama, Aishwarya J. Urs, Achyuthan N. Srikanthan, O. Adhikari","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-341-354","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-341-354","url":null,"abstract":"We resurrect the nominal taxon Boiga ranawanei Samarawickrama, Samarawickrama, Wijesena et Orlov, 2005 as a valid species endemic to Sri Lanka. We uphold the view that B. ranawanei is conspecific with what was previously considered as the Sri Lankan population of ‘B. beddomei’. The revised concept of B. beddomei as a species endemic to the Western Ghats of India and altogether absent from Sri Lanka necessitated the Sri Lankan ‘B. beddomei’ population be conferred with the available nomen B. ranawanei. We also report on further specimens of the two Indian species closely associated with B. ranawanei – B. beddomei that was associated in a nomenclatural sense and B. flaviviridis that is associated in a taxonomic sense. Here, we expand the descriptions of B. beddomei and especially that of B. flaviviridis based on many more additional specimens from several localities across Peninsular India. We again update the key to this group with the inclusion of B. ranawanei. We perform Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) to elaborate on the recorded and simulated distribution range envelopes of the Indian taxa (B. flaviviridis, B. beddomei, B. nuchalis, B. thackerayi) in the B. ceylonesis group. Thus we explain the geographical discontinuity among these taxa to further corroborate our findings on their taxonomic statuses.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"41793312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Inter-Pond Migration During the Aquatic Phase by Male Triturus ivanbureschi","authors":"Simeon Lukanov","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-373-376","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-373-376","url":null,"abstract":"Amphibian migrations are mainly associated with seasonal movements between terrestrial and aquatic (breeding) habitats, but inter-pond migrations during the breeding season present a rarely observed and understudied phenomenon. In 2018 and 2019, a total of 501 individual newts (168 females and 333 males) from two ponds were captured using funnel traps, the ventral side of each newt was photographed and recaptures were identified using the image recognition software Hotspotter ver. 1.0. The distance between ponds was 200 m, with a slight downward slope from pond 1 to pond 2 and terrestrial vegetation consisting of shrubs, grassy patches and trees. All recorded inter-pond migrations were males (three and two individuals in 2018 and 2019, respectively). Between years, ten males were recorded to move between ponds, three of which were identical to individuals that also migrated between ponds within a single season. The observed behavior is discussed in terms of rarity, distance and time of migration.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43216931","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dineth A. Danushka, Suneth A. Kanishka, J. Hallermann, Patrick D. Campbell, I. Ineich, O. Pauwels, A. Amarasinghe
{"title":"Taxonomy, Distribution, and Conservation of Lankascincus dorsicatenatus (Deraniyagala, 1953) (Reptilia: Scincidae) with Designation of a Neotype","authors":"Dineth A. Danushka, Suneth A. Kanishka, J. Hallermann, Patrick D. Campbell, I. Ineich, O. Pauwels, A. Amarasinghe","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-355-363","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-355-363","url":null,"abstract":"Lankascincus dorsicatenatus is an endemic species of litter-skink distributed throughout the wet zone of Sri Lanka (elevations from 15 to 800 m a.s.l.). The recent resurrection of Lygosoma megalops by the recent description of its neotype designated by Batuwita (2019), presently lost, destabilized the taxonomic status of Lankascincus dorsicatenatus. Amarasinghe et al. (2022) synonymized Lygosoma megalops with Lankascincus fallax, and accepted Lankascincus dorsicatenatus as a valid taxon. Deraniyagala (1953) described Sphenomorphus dorsicatenatus based on a holotype and three paratypes. All the types are lost except one paratype at the National Museum of Sri Lanka, Colombo, Sri Lanka (NMSL), but it is in bad condition. Therefore, with a comparative discussion on the status of ‘Lankascincus megalops‘, here we designate a neotype for Lankascincus dorsicatenatus for clarification of the taxonomic status and stabilize the nomen. A discussion on the distribution and conservation of Lankascincus dorsicatenatus is also provided.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49472625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"First Record of Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 (Squamata: Sauria: Gekkonidae) from the Eastern Himalayas","authors":"C. K. Deepak, Deuti Kaushik, Chandra Deuti","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-367-372","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-367-372","url":null,"abstract":"The gekkonid lizard genus Hemiphyllodactylus Bleeker, 1860 is represented by seven species in India, six of which are patchily distributed across montane habitats of peninsular India and one in Andaman and Nicobar islands. Here we report the occurrence of Hemiphyllodactylus sp. in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India. This is the first record of the genus from Eastern Himalayas and the larger Indian Himalayan Region. It is also the northern most distribution record of the genus for the country. The specimen collected is distinct from known Indian species and shows close affinity to Hemiphyllodactylus yunnanensis sensu lato with respect to morphological characters as well as geographic proximity of collection locality. However, considering the restricted montane distribution and limited range of species from mainland Southeast Asia and peninsular India, it most likely belongs to a hitherto undescribed species. The finding emphasizes the conservation significance of tropical evergreen forests of Eastern Himalayas and North east hills for herpetofaunal diversity and biodiversity in general.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"44337781","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sidra Ikram, M. Rais, Sumbul Gill, W. Ahmad, M. Saeed, A. Akram, I. Khan, M. Akhter
{"title":"Morphological and Ecological Correlates of Anuran Tadpoles in Scrub and Subtropical Pine Forests","authors":"Sidra Ikram, M. Rais, Sumbul Gill, W. Ahmad, M. Saeed, A. Akram, I. Khan, M. Akhter","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-317-323","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-317-323","url":null,"abstract":"We recorded tadpoles of eight anuran species from subtropical scrub and pine forests (District Rawalpindi and Islamabad Capital Territory, Pakistan). These include Duttaphrynus melanostictus, Duttaphrynus stomaticus, Microhyla nilphamariensis, Euphlyctis spp., Minervarya spp., Allopaa hazarensis, Nanorana vicina, and Hoplobatrachus tigerinus. Our results showed that the forest type featuring scrub vegetation, low elevation and warmer climate (day air temperature 30°C, day water temperature 28°C) had more species richness (six of the eight recorded species) while the subtropical pine forest featuring relatively low air (16°C) and water (14°C) temperatures and higher elevation had relatively higher anuran endemism. The Indus Valley Toad is an abundant species throughout scrub forest. Changes in climate resulting in increased temperatures in pine forests could negatively impact endemic species by encouraging the spread of species adapted for warmer temperatures.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"43573278","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Records of Amphibians in the Caves of Zonguldak Province in Western Black Sea Region of Turkey","authors":"U. Bülbül, Engin Zaman","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-324-330","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-324-330","url":null,"abstract":"An inventory belonging to knowledge of the amphibian fauna is provided from the caves in Zonguldak province, western Black Sea Region of Turkey. No systematic field survey of amphibians in Turkish cave environments has yet been performed. The number of known caves in the western Black Sea region is approximately 280 and the province of Zonguldak ranks second with 41 caves in this region. We conducted our field surveys in 31 caves of Zonguldak during the period in 2017 – 2019 and our results revealed occurrences of four amphibian species. Dedicated surveys using appropriate methods will increase the number of amphibian species in the caves.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49033001","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Notes on Breeding of Mertensiella caucasica (Waga, 1876) (Urodela: Salamandridae) from Black Sea Coast of Turkey","authors":"U. Bülbül, Halime Koç","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-364-366","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-6-364-366","url":null,"abstract":"The eggs and embryos of the Caucasian salamander were investigated in a breeding population (Kayabaşı, Trabzon). We found 24 eggs at the beginning of June 2018. About three weeks later, the shaped embryos were observed in the eggs. Finally, we performed the last visit to the study site one month later from the second visit. The hatching process was almost finished except for 1 egg that had an embryo inside and 2 – 3 eggs, no living embryos inside. We observed that the egg development period lasted about 50 days in the Kayabaşı population. The hatching period of the Caucasian salamander may differ according to different ecological conditions.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-12-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42254876","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
K. Milto, A. Barabanov, L. Borkin, J. Rosanov, S. Litvinchuk
{"title":"Distribution and population systems of Water Frogs (the Pelophylax esculentus complex) in Northwestern Russia","authors":"K. Milto, A. Barabanov, L. Borkin, J. Rosanov, S. Litvinchuk","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-298-316","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-298-316","url":null,"abstract":"Peculiarities of distribution and population systems of water frogs of the Pelophylax esculentus complex in the northwest of Russia were studied using cytogenetic (genome size) and external morphological characters (439 specimens from 101 localities). We registered three species: P. lessonae, P. ridibundus, and P. esculentus of a hybrid origin. All frogs, including hybrids, were diploid. The first species was prevailing (82% localities); the second species was revealed in 18% localities and hybrid frogs in 13% localities. All species reach the northernmost limits of their distribution. Pelophylax lessonae is widely spread through Pskovskaya and Novgorodskaya oblast’s, as well as in southern Leningradskaya oblast’, preferring forest habitats. Pelophylax esculentus is found in Pskovskaya oblast’ (forest and agricultural biotopes) in co-existence with P. lessonae only. Pelophylax ridibundus, which was introduced since the 18th century, is distributed in St. Petersburg City and Leningradskaya oblast’ along southern coast of the Gulf of Finland and Narva River on the Estonian border. All populations of the species were usually observed in open water bodies and rivers that flow down on cultivated, urban or barren lands and were allopatric in relation to P. lessonae and P. esculentus. Water frogs of northwestern Russia form three types of population systems only: so called pure single-species (L or R) systems and a mixed (L – E) system; no type with unisexual hybrids was revealed. Thus, their diversity is lower than in other regions of central and eastern Europe.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"42537710","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Age Determination of Ophisops elegans (Ménétriés, 1832) (Squamata: Lacertidae) Populations from Different Altitudes in Turkey","authors":"H. Güler, N. Üzüm","doi":"10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-255-261","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-5-255-261","url":null,"abstract":"In this study, comparison of body size and age of two populations of Ophisops elegans from different altitudes was carried out (Kepez, 180 m; Paşayaylası, 1250 m). We applied phalangeal skeletochronology to obtain the age of juveniles and adults by counting the lines of arrested growth (LAGs) in phalangeal cross-sections. Male-biased sexual dimorphism was observed in Kepez, while female-biased sexual dimorphism was determined in the Paşayaylası population. Both male and female individuals in Kepez and Paşayaylası populations reached sexual maturity at the age of 3. The maximum age or longevity was calculated as 7 years in males and 9 years in females. Considering all individuals, the Kepez population was found to be older than Paşayaylası population. For both populations, a significant positive correlation was found between age and size in males and females.","PeriodicalId":48693,"journal":{"name":"Russian Journal of Herpetology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2022-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"47808160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}